Revolutionary Saturday/Don't forget to enter my Kindle contest!!!

            Today on Revolutionary Saturday I’d like to introduce you to Caleb Brewster, who was the kind of guy Harrison Ford or Bruce Willis would’ve played in their prime.

            A real die hard.

            Caleb was a whaleboat captain who conducted successful raids on British forts on Long Island.

            He was also a member of George Washington’s Culper Spy Ring.
            Caleb and his men hid along the Setauket, Long Island shore­ waiting for a signal that the message for Washington had arrived, courtesy of courier Austin Roe. It is believed that Anna Strong hung a petticoat in her clothesline to alert Caleb. But however he found out that his message was waiting for him, Caleb was always ready to act.

            He and his men rowed across the Long Island Sound to American-held Connecticut.

There, it was carried to Washington. Especially because of the long, round-about route from New York, time was of the essence. But Caleb often found a moment to raid larger British ships on the way to Connecticut. He was that kind of guy.

            Towards the end of the war, Benjamin Tallmadge was on board a whaleboat with Caleb when they came under British fire. Caleb went down with a musket ball through the chest. Tallmadge recalled in his memoir that he thought it was the end of Caleb. He was wrong.

            Caleb rose and fought on.

            He recovered and lived into his 80’s.

A letter from Caleb Brewster to Benjamin Tallmadge

            If you’d like to read more about Caleb Brewster and the Culper Spy Ring, check out my book, Upon Secrecy.

http://www.amazon.com/Upon-Secrecy-Selene-Castrovilla/dp/1590785738

Don't forget to enter my Kindle contest! Read yesterday's blog for details!!!!!

           

Share my Matchbox Miracle and Enter to Win a Kindle!

Thanks to everyone who's been entering this contest. Especially with the passing of my aunt, I'm appreciating the positivity and love we're generating.

 

I promised I'd tell the story of my Matchbox Ford Focus miracle, so here it is:

 

A few years ago I was going through a really hard time. I'll spare you the details, but things were confusing. My head felt like it was literally spinning, and I didn't know what to do with myself.

 

And I wasn't writing. Who could write with my personal life in turmoil?

 

I was coming out of an office building, and for some reason I looked down. At my feet was a Matchbox car. "Oh, Casey would like this," I thought. I picked it up for my younger son.

 

I examined it: A Ford Focus. Purple. It said "Focus" across the hood, and the word was scattered all over the side doors. "Focus, focus, focus, focus, focus, focus, focus..."

 

 

This is what the car looks like! Thank you, Google Images!!!

 

I put it back down. "I can't give this to Casey. It was on the ground. Who knows where it came from."

 

I started to walk away. Then it hit me:

 

A Ford Focus.

 

Henry Ford said one of my favorite quotes: "Whether you think you can, or whether you think you can't, you're right."

 

 

Purple.

My favorite color. I surround myself with it.

 

Focus.

Could the word be any clearer?

 

"This is a messsage for me, from God," I said, picking up the car for a second time.

 

I took it with me to a writing retreat a few days later. I focused. And I wrote the book I'd been trying to write for years: Upon Secrecy.

 

 

 

 

It came pouring out in that one week. I had only the first line when I got there: "God, forgive me."

 

I wrote that story in a veritable fever. My head was pounding.  The scene was something out of a movie.

 

When we were leaving, I handed the end of the manuscript to my editor, who'd been reading along as I wrote.  She said, "If it's anything like the rest, it'll be fine."

 

Hearing those words from her was a second miracle, believe me.

 

Focus. So simple. But it took a Matchbox car from God for me to sit down and do it.

 

 

 

Got a story about a miracle? Share it with me, and you could win yourself or someone you love a Kindle.

There are other ways to win:

1. Follow this blog. (There is a space at the bottom of the post to enter your e-mail. I know it's hard to figure out - but I can't figure out how to make it clearer. Sorry!!!)
2. Post this contest in your status on any social media.
3. E-mail your favorite quote on "miracles" to Ldymcbeth@aol.com.
4. Review one of my books (there are four) on your blog, Goodreads or Amazon.
5. I'm open to other creative ideas for entries. Try me!
You will receive one entry for each thing you do. I will select ONE winner out of all the entries on Thursday, December 15.